Today's News: Our Take - Best Moments: Mother's Robin Sparkles Is Back and Scandal's Shocking Twist

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 7, 2013 at 6:23 AM

Our best moments of the week:11. Worst (Best) Moment of Truth: After suspecting it for weeks on The Mindy Project, Mindy finally confronts the guy she's been dating Jaime (B.J. Novak) about his best friend, who seems to ...

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Our best moments of the week:

11. Worst (Best) Moment of Truth: After suspecting it for weeks on The Mindy Project, Mindy finally confronts the guy she's been dating - Jaime (B.J. Novak) - about his best friend, who seems to be the Sally to his Harry. After an intense line of questioning from Mindy in the line to go to the top of the Empire State Building, Jaime realizes he actually is in love with his best friend. The moment would be slightly more romantic if a) he was in love with Mindy, b) it wasn't Valentine's Day and c) he didn't completely trip over himself on the lobby turnstile trying to run to his true love.

10. Weirdest Meltdown: Subway busker Frankie Ford clashes with the rest of his group members on American Idol and then forgets the lyrics to Estelle's "American Boy." As a result, he's booted and has a post-elimination meltdown that is every reality TV producer's dream. There are tears, defiant stomping, waving off cameras, refusal to talk to producers, a sabotage accusation, and, of course, the requisite declaration that he will return and win it all. "I swear to God I'm coming back next year and I'm going to win," he insists. "They will not deny me." 9. More Than Words Award: The Bachelor had its most awkward goodbye when Sean realizes that his feelings for Sarah - the girl with whom he shared his first solo date - have not progressed. Instead of putting her through a rose ceremony, Sean pulls Sarah aside to tell her that she'll be going home. But Sarah, who was born with one arm, has heard it all before. "I wanted to hear his explanation because it's always the same," she says in her confessional. "'You're an amazing girl. I know how special you are and I want to connect with you so bad, but I don't. And someone is going to be so lucky to have you...' I just don't want to be told forever how great I am, what I deserve." 8. Most Meta Reference, Part 2: New Community showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port don't waste any time before addressing fans' anxiety about the changing of the guard. In the first episode since creator Dan Harmon was fired, Community returns as a multi-camera sitcom, complete with a cheesy laugh track. But that's not all, folks! Chevy Chase, who had, um, issues with the show and Harmon, is replaced by Fred Willard (who makes a great Pierce, we might add). Of course, none of that is actually real. The super-meta fantasy is Abed's "happy place" that he escapes to as part of his therapy with Britta. Though now that Chase actually has left the show, the joke is a little bittersweet.

7. Weirdest Hallucination: Sure, they may have thrown out everything, including the kitchen sink, for the new season of Smash, but one thing the show couldn't part with? Those crazy hallucinatory musical sequences! In the season premiere, a drunk Derek sits alone in a bar, reflecting on all his past conquests. Suddenly Karen, Ivy and a couple of other random hot girls pop up, Robert Palmer-style, in hot-pink heels and skin-tight black dresses to belt the Eurythmics' classic "Would I Lie to You?" Oh, Smash, don't ever change. Actually, on second thought... 6. Most Awkward Reunion: Today show producers probably haven't heard that Tiffani Thiessen doesn't want a Saved by the Bell reunion. Or they're just evil. While the actress prepares to play a TV trivia game with Today co-hosts Natalie Morales and Willie Geist, Mr. Belding himself, Dennis Haskins, barges in with his famous catchphrase: "Hey, hey! What is going on here?" And Thiessen is visibly not excited. She politely shakes Haskins' hand and offers a half-smile before getting on with the game. At least Haskins knew not to go in for a hug. But seriously, guys: She doesn't want a reunion.

5. Best Love in an Elevator: After joining Juliette's tour and subsequently getting a stern talking-to from her controlling manager on Nashville, Deacon suddenly decides to confront his estrangement from Rayna head-on. The minute he steps on the elevator, Rayna peppers him with questions about "what the hell" he is doing on the tour. He answers by grabbing and kissing her. Even when Rayna tries to interject, Deacon tells her that he's done talking and kisses her again before the elevator arrives at his floor and he casually exits, leaving a shocked Rayna fumbling to keep upright. Where's a power outage when you need one?

4. Best Performance: The Super Bowl is a big deal and all, but every now and then, you're reminded that it's just a game. That comes in the opening festivities when the Sandy Hook Elementary School Choir delivers a moving performance of "America the Beautiful" before being joined by Jennifer Hudson. Can we give out another MVP award? 3. Best Parting Shot: After Ann overhears that her ex-husband Harris can't be prosecuted for kidnapping their young daughter on Dallas, she decides to solve her recent depression by taking matters into her own hands. She confronts Harris, who rubs his horrible actions in her face. Little does Harris know, although he is protected by the law, he is not protected from Ann's wrath. She pulls a gun from her purse and shoots Harris in the chest.

2. Most Cold-Blooded: As if Scandal hasn't been intense enough already this season, the person behind Fitz's shooting is finally revealed: It was Verna! While on her death bed, she confesses to the president that she and the rest of the "Illuminati" rigged the election - information she plans to turn over to David Rosen. Except Fitz can't let that happen, so he kills Verna and later tells Olivia not to wait for him since she was part of the rigging. Mr. President, what have you done?!

1. Most Meta Reference, Part 3: You oughta know that Robin Sparkles went through a grunge phase back in the '90s on How I Met Your Mother. Per her 1996 Underneath the Tunes (Canada's Behind the Music, duh) profile, the pop queen lost it when she started obsessing over a mystery man and debuted the Alanis Morissette-esque song "P.S. I Love You" about him as Robin Daggers. So who was the song aboot? "It wasn't me. Why does everyone always think it's me?" Dave Coulier says. "It wasn't me. Stop asking. Jeez. Cut. It. Out." What say you, Future Ted, aka Bob Saget? "I always liked that joke."

What were your best moments?

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